Randall J. Cofer

WATKINSVILLE—Randall J. Cofer, 88, died February 2, 2026. He was the son of Albert J. and Emma Hale Cofer. He was a native of Clarke County and, except for a brief time in Atlanta and Texas, lived his entire life in the area.

Randall attended Clarke County public schools and graduated Athens High School in 1955. He attended Young Harris College and the University of Georgia, where he earned Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in journalism and sociology. While in college, he worked for Wellington-Puritan and the Athens Banner Herald.

After college he worked for Southern Bell Telephone in Atlanta, but returned to Athens to begin a 30-year career with the University of Georgia’s Cooperative Extension Service. With the Extension Service, he was a writer and an editor of educational literature for eleven years. He later served as a district chairman and as a human resources specialist, and in 1975 was named head of the Extension Communications Department, a role he filled for 16 years. In 1985, he was named chairman of the College of Agriculture Division of Communications, where he served until his retirement.

In retirement, Randall enjoyed travel and playing golf, until the effects of age forced him to give up the game. He then devoted his time to catching up and keeping up with home maintenance projects and enjoying his grandchildren’s activities, which he said was the best job he ever had.

He was a member of Watkinsville First United Methodist Church, where he served on a number of committees, and as a trustee, as lay leader and as chairman of ushers. He taught an adult Sunday School class for more than 30 years.

He was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his loving wife of 54 years, Carol Driver Cofer; his sons, Randy Cofer, Oakwood; Corban Cofer (Jennifer), Suwanee, and daughter, Caroline Cofer Hamilton (Lyn), Gulf Shores, Alabama. He is also survived by four grandchildren, (“the spark that has kept me alive so long”) Joshua and Jessica Cofer, Suwanee; Caleb and Katelyn Hamilton, Gulf Shores, Alabama; and by step grandchildren John Hamilton, Huntsville, Alabama, and Rachel Hamilton Boozer (Jacob), San Antonio, Texas.

One of his favorite quotations was, “If I have done anything worthy in this life it is in the ones I leave behind.” He loved his family deeply and cherished the time he spent with each of them.

In lieu of flowers, those wishing to are asked to contribute to the Georgia 4-H Foundation, the American Heart Association, Watkinsville First Methodist Church, or St. Jude Children’s Hospital, Randall’s favorites.

Visitation will be held on February 7, 2026 from 1:30pm to 3:00pm, immediately followed by a Celebration of Life at 3:00pm, all at Watkinsville First Methodist Church, 1331 New High Shoals Rd., Watkinsville, GA 30677. Family and friends are invited to attend and honor the life of Randall Cofer.

Lord and Stephens, West is in charge of arrangements.

www.lordandstephens.com